Shameless Mumbai mayor Snehal Ambekar clings to red beacon

Snehal Ambekar has not written to the state government asking for permission to use the red beacon on her car, as she had promised to do in September; according to the state’s list, a mayor is not entitled to this privilege

Mayor Snehal Ambekar is holding on to her beloved red beacon, despite the state government not permitting her to do so. Ambekar had stated in September that she would write to the state government and ask for permission to use the beacon, but no such move has been made yet.

Mayor Snehal Ambekar continues to use the red beacon, despite not being on the state’s list of functionaries allowed to do so. File pic

Ambekar, like her predecessor Sunil Prabhu, has been adamant on using the red beacon atop her car, contending that the mayor of a city like Mumbai is entitled to it. However, the state government’s list of functionaries who can use the red beacon does not include the mayor.

Ambekar had insisted in September that she would consult senior members of her party and also write to the CM asking for permission. The letter is yet to materialise. With her party now in power in the state, Ambekar, who is from the Sena, continues using the light without getting the government’s permission.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had written to the state government during Prabhu’s tenure, but no reply had been received. Sources in the mayor’s office said she would soon write to CM Devendra Fadnavis. On the other hand, officials from the Regional Transport Office had written to the BMC’s transport department, which deals with cars that are provided to employees and senior functionaries.

The letter had asked for an update on the mayor’s status on the red beacon and whether she had been allowed to use one. However, the civic body is yet to respond to the communication. S Ansari, chief engineer, BMC’s solid waste management department (under whose purview the transport department falls) said, “We have received the RTO’s letter and we will soon write to the state government on this matter.

We had written earlier as well, but there was a delay due to the state polls.” Leader of opposition, Devendra Amberkar from the Congress, said, “There is no official permission to use the red beacon, but the Mayor is still roaming around with it. The BMC is yet to write to the state or even reply to the RTO’s letter.”